What Is A Cut Block And When Is It Illegal For A Football Player To Execute?

The cut block is when an offensive football player attempts to get a defensive player to the ground by diving at his feet and ankles rather than his upper body. This technique, however, borders the thin line between making a good block and maybe injuring someone.

Lehigh University offensive lineman coach John Powers has had several years of first hand experience with the cut block.

"A cut block is an illegal block that is used to hurt players," he said. "And the cut block has become less and less popular because in some instances you can get a penalty called. So, we use it sparingly when we try to get our head across the inside of the defense attacker's body in order to get him down on the ground."

Cut blocks are legal mainly in the open field. This allows the defensive player an opportunity to avoid or hurdle the block. The main area in which a cut block is not legal is in the trenches. The trenches are considered the area where offensive and defensive linemen square off against one another at the line of scrimmage.

Now, it's obviously very easy for an offensive lineman to make a block on a defensive lineman by chopping him at the line of scrimmage. But with the amount of injuries that have occurred over the years from cut blocks, rules have changed making the cut block at the line of scrimmage illegal and will result in a penalty.

Cut blocks are also illegal to perform against a player that is already engaged in a block with another player. Meaning, if I'm a wide receiver or offensive lineman or running back and I'm looking to make a block for someone on my team, I can not intentionally go at the feet of a defender who is already being blocked.

A former offensive lineman at Columbia University, Powers said that he understands why rules for cut blocks have been altered over the last few years.

"If you're cutting the guy who is engaged with another defender that's illegal," he said. "If you come from the outside and cut the outside leg of the guy that's illegal as well and I've seen kids get hurt that way."

The cut block penalty has also been revamped to protect the offensive team as well. Let's say a player is running down the football field with a blocker in front of him.
Also, let's say the only thing standing between the ball carrier and the end zone are two defenders. In times past, the first defender would cut block the first blocker as to clear the way for the second defender to make the tackle.
Now, again with the concern solely on injuries, the first defender must engage the blocker above the waist.